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The Constitution of the
Oregon State University
Black Graduate Student Association

est. April 29, 1998

[ Article I | Article II | Article III | Article IV | Article V | Article VI | Article VII | Article VIII | Article IX ]

Section 1: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA).

Section 2: Purpose

The BGSA is an organization dedicated to making the Oregon State University (OSU) community aware of and responsive to the needs and concerns of Black graduate students. The BGSA serves as a professional and social support body for graduate and undergraduate students. BGSA is particularly concerned with the recruitment and retention of Black undergraduates into graduate school.

BGSA encourages the development of interdependent relationships between Black graduate students and faculty with a particular focus on Black faculty and staff. BGSA will be supportive of establishing interdependent relationships between Black graduate and undergraduate students, particularly through the OSU Ujima Education Office and/or Black Cultural Center. The BGSA will cultivate communications with Black graduate and undergraduate students attending neighboring colleges and universities. BGSA will enhance and sustain a relationship with the local Black and OSU communities, as well as the national Black graduate student community.

Section 3: Membership

Members shall consist of any graduate students at Oregon State University who have paid membership dues and who are interested in the goals and purposes of the BGSA.

• A. Active membership status shall be granted to those University students who:
  1. Render a predetermined amount per quarter for membership dues;
  2. Participate in at least two university service projects per academic year;
  3. Do not acquire more than five (5) absences from scheduled meeting per academic year except with sufficient reason (i.e., Academic and Personal Responsibilities).

• B. Inactive membership status shall be granted to all university students who do not meet all requirements in Section 3A, but who wish to be a part of the goals and purposes of the BGSA; these goals and purposes are outlined in Section 2.

• C. Associate membership shall be faculty and staff who are interested and committed to the goals and purpose of the BGSA as outlined in Section 2.

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Section 1: There shall be four (4) Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the members during the annual election meeting held before the academic year in which they shall hold office, or as the need arises to fill vacancies created during the year. Officers shall participate in an apprenticeship under the outgoing officer from the Quarter following their election. Apprenticeships shall last one quarter. This apprentice shall begin before the official beginning of the officer's post, unless a resignation or removal of post occurs. When an officer is elected to fill an unexpired term, they shall take office immediately and serve until the normal expiration of the term.

Section 2: There shall be an Executive Committee comprised of the four executive officers, BGSA advisor, and committee chairpersons. The President shall appoint committee chairpersons. When circumstances necessitate, the Executive Committee shall have the power to make policies and decisions before these circumstances are presented to the membership. Any such policy or decision must be submitted to the membership for action as its first order of old business at the next member meeting.

Section 3: Duties and Powers of the PRESIDENT, Executive of the BSGA, include:

• A. Overseeing BSGA activities.
• B. Enforcing association policies, programs, and directive of the membership.
• C. Chairing and setting agenda for said meetings.
• D. Calling, with ample notice, special and regular meetings as deemed necessary.
• E. Generating new activities with officers in the development of an annual schedule of events.
• F. Delivering an address to the membership at the beginning of each quarter regarding the state of BGSA and Black graduate issues. The delivery shall include visions, recommendations, and resolutions for the association.
• G. Making agreements with other organizations and agencies with the consent of the membership and subject to ratification.
• H. Representing BGSA to other organizations and institutions within and outside of the OSU community.
• I. Creating specific committees and appointing committee chairpersons.
• J. Requesting committee reports from all chairpersons.
• K. Serving as a voting Chairperson of the Executive Committee and an ex officio member of all BGSA committees [See Article II, Section 2, Executive Officers].
• L. Overseeing financial transactions.
• M. Submitting proposals and resolutions.

Section 5: Duties and powers of the VICE-PRESIDENT shall include:

• A. Embracing the powers and duties of the President in the absence of or at the request of the President.
• B. Assisting the President in implementing the policies, programs and directives of the BGSA.
• C. Submitting legislation and resolutions to the membership.
• D. Supervising public relations, communications, and information retrieval.
• E. Acting as an ex officio member of all BGSA Executive and ad hoc committees [See Article II, Section 2, Executive Officers].
• F. Serving as the acting president if the Presidency is vacant or until the call for nominations and subsequent election of a new President is made.

Section 6: Duties and powers of the TREASURER shall include: Maintaining a current and detailed record of the fiscal condition and financial transactions of BGSA, including, revenues, obligations, and expenditures.

• A. Submitting financial and quarterly reports at each meeting and maintaining these reports in BGSA Master File.
• B. Bringing to the attention of the President discrepancies, improprieties and inefficiencies in the fiscal policies and operations of the BGSA.
• C. Coordinating all proposals for event-funding that need to be submitted to the OSU Black Graduate Student Association and other potential funders.
• D. Organizing all fund raising events.
• E. Co-signing with the President and/or advisor of the BGSA on purchases or other expenditures including deposits and withdrawals.
• F. Serving on the Executive Committee of BGSA [See Article II, Section 2, Executive Officers].

Section 7: Duties and powers of the SECRETARY shall include:

• A. Serving as recording secretary to the BGSA and the Executive Committee. [See Article II, Section 2, Executive Officers].
• B. Performing other duties as the office requires under the direction of the current President.
• C. Maintaining roll sign-in sheets for meetings including the active and non-active status of members [See Article I, Section 3, Membership].
• D. Recording, reproducing, and distributing minutes of executive meetings, general meetings and special meetings.
• E. Providing current versions of the Constitution, current membership lists (i.e., Black graduate students, faculty, and staff), and approved minute files for both BGSA and Executive Committee meetings. This will be done through both file and Web site maintenance.
• F. Notifying members of meetings.

Section 8: Powers of the MEMBERS. The members shall be empowered:

• A. To make recommendations in any matter of policy affecting Black graduate students.
• B. To create or authorize programs any action to accomplish the goals and purposes of the BGSA in serving the interests of Black graduate students.
• C. To override or disapprove any action to accomplish the goals and proposes of the BGSA in serving graduate students.
• D. To enact revenue-producing measures and to allocate, obligate or expend monies of the BGSA.
• E. To establish Standing and Ad Hoc Committees deemed necessary to carry out the goals, purposes, and activities of the BGSA.
• F. Throughout this Constitution, the terms 'majority vote' or 'two-thirds vote' refers to a 51% percentage or a quorum, unless a specific policy requires the 'full membership.' A 'full membership' means the total of all eligible voting members of the BGSA.

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Section 1: The Executive Committee shall consist of the four executive officers and shall hold the power as denoted in Article II, Section 2. The President as the BGSA shall appoint other committees, standing or special, or the Executive Committee deems necessary.

Section 2: Upon the development of a BGSA web site and/or newsletter, the Editor shall be considered a committee chairperson.

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Section 1: The Advisor must be a faculty or staff member at Oregon State University, recommended by the Black Faculty, Staff, and students on campus, and approved by the Executive Committee.

Section 2: The Advisor must attend all Executive Committee meetings and, if deemed necessary, attend general and special meetings.

Section 3: The Advisor shall be a member of the Editorial Board of the BGSA to advise this committee of web site and/or newsletter needs and concerns.

Section 4: The Advisor shall provide guidance, assistance and recommendations to the BGSA officers and members.

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Section 1: Any candidate for any office, chair, or other position in the BGSA - elected, appointed, or service - must be held by a member of the BGSA as defined in Article I, Section 3.

Section 2: All officers must be full-time matriculated graduate students at Oregon State University.

Section 3: Candidates for any position established by this Constitution are also required to meet any additional eligibility requirements contained in other Articles of this constitution.

Section 4: Loss of student status is equivalent to loss of membership and shall be a cause of ineligibility to hold office.

Section 5: If the propriety of an election is in question as to the validity, meaning the validity of the election, the candidate cannot vote in action taken to prove the validity of the election.

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Section 1: Vacancies occur immediately in offices or positions established herein by:

• A. Resignation.
• B. Removal from office.
• C. Loss of student status.

Section 2: Any officer or Executive Committee member may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the full membership of the BGSA for malfeasance, nonfeasance, neglect of duty, or abuse of power.

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Section 1: The rules contained in the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern in all cases where it is deemed necessary, and where they are not consistent with the BGSA Constitution, rules or by-laws.

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Section 1: Any member may propose Amendments to this Constitution.

Section 2: Amendments shall be adopted upon two-thirds vote of the full membership.

Section 3: Any Amendment to this Constitution shall take effect upon the date specified by the Membership at the time the Amendment is ratified.

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Section 1: This document will take immediate effect upon ratification by simple majority vote of all the Black graduate students voting.

Section 2: Times, places, and procedure for a general referendum of issues concerning Black graduate students will be established by the Executive Committee.

Last updated May 2, 1998
http://dusk.geo.orst.edu/bgsa/bgsa_const.html